MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Friday disbursed Rs 4,372.83 crore as financial assistance to 87.45 lakh drought-affected farmers to celebrate Diwali. Each drought affected by the drought will get Rs 5000 as relief money.
As financial help in the festive season, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced giving Rs 5000 each to farmers in 304 drought-hit talukas.
Maharashtra State Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Makarand Jadhav Patil said that as of November 5, the amount had been credited to the bank accounts of 87,45,669 farmers. The process of extending assistance to the remaining eligible beneficiaries is underway, and technical issues preventing the transfer of funds are being resolved, he added.
The government had initiated the advance assistance scheme in view of the drought situation and the financial difficulties faced by farmers. Officials from the Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation and Agriculture departments worked on a priority basis to ensure direct transfer of the assistance into beneficiaries' bank accounts.
Of the total disbursement, the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division received the highest allocation of Rs 1,668.18 crore, benefiting 33.36 lakh farmers. Nashik division accounted for Rs 903.52 crore for 18.07 lakh farmers, while Pune division received Rs 753.19 crore for 15.06 lakh farmers.
In Amravati division, Rs 641.10 crore was distributed among 12.82 lakh farmers, while Nagpur division received Rs 375.02 crore for 7.50 lakh farmers. In the Konkan division, Rs 31.82 crore was credited to the accounts of 63,647 farmers.
Among districts, Ahilyanagar received the highest assistance in Nashik division, with Rs 403.64 crore distributed among 8.07 lakh farmers. In Pune division, Solapur accounted for Rs 297.44 crore, benefiting 5.94 lakh farmers. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division, Beed received Rs 306.05 crore for 6.12 lakh farmers.
The minister said delays in payments to some beneficiaries were due to errors in bank account details and other technical difficulties. The concerned agencies have been directed to resolve these issues and ensure that no eligible drought-affected farmer is left out of the scheme.
The government is closely monitoring the distribution process, and the remaining eligible farmers will receive the assistance once the technical issues are resolved, Patil said.
Opposition criticised the incumbent government for giving mere Rs 5000 to each drought affected farmers saying in such a small amount, what will the farmers get, they already lost their crops. Opponents said giving this small amount to farmers means rubbing salt in their wounds and insulting their hardship.
